DAY 16, 17 & 18 - Lot's of riding and a Lesson

I can't remember the exact order of riding events for Tuesday, but I'm pretty sure we made the usual rounds, and I think we also did a lot more trotting and cantering than usual. I remember cantering up through the woods on the path behind Dad's, and also cantering up the path across the street. I even had to use the bat on him a few times to keep him moving! We were out for a solid hour, and he was very good.

Tuesday afternoon, behind Lenny's house

Yesterday, I got up extra early, in order to prepare us for our 9 a.m. lesson time today (Thursday.) I fed him by 7:30, and took care of his paddock by 9 or so.. I think it was around 10:30 that we were all tacked up and ready to go. He was a bit cranky during the grooming process.. ticklish around his belly and loin areas, and swishing his tail and threatening to kick.. he also tried nipping a few times as I walked beneath the tie. I corrected him with my voice and a smack or two, and he behaved after that. I am never surprised when he is grumpy during the grooming and tacking up phase.. it's just how he rolls. He is always good by the time we finish with the day.

I could also tell that Possum was in the mood to be spooky. He was all looky looking at things.. but we marched on down the hill towards Dr. Doyle's old place. The town road crews had been working on clearing space for water run off down there, and their was giant, rusty old pipe laying on the side of the road. We walked by that with no problem, but by the time we had turned around at the end of the road and were heading towards it again, it had turned into a big, scary monster that was going to kill him. So, he snorted, he raised his head and perked his ears, and threatened to unseat me with some fancy side-stepping action.

So, I immediately went to work. Remembering what Clinton Anderson wrote about how to deal with a horse that spooks on the trail, I kicked Possum into a trot. We trotted away from the pipe, then stopped. Then we turned and trotted towards it. Again, he acted like it was going to kill him, so I kicked him into a circle, and we trotted away from it again. I repeated this for about 6 or 8 minutes, all the while getting a bit closer to the pipe. Soon enough, Possum began to tire of this, and realized that it would be a lot easier for him to not be spooked by the pipe and walk by it. Pretty cool how well that trick works.

So, we walked on, and back up the hill. We took the trail behind Dad's house, and cantered up to the back of the house. Then we walked up to the road from the secondary driveway opening. He was looking for more things to spook at, but I kept him marching. Then, we turned right onto our secondary driveway, and we walked over the little cross rail jump I had set up on the path the night before. Then, we turned around and trotted over it this time. I surprised at how much jump the little guy gave! That was fun.

I didn't want to push my jumping luck, though, so we continued on up the road to the Dodge field. I let him say hello to Big Mack, then we worked in the field a bit. I feel much stronger in my seat and core, so that's good. We did a few trots and a couple of short canters, I believe, then we walked down to Lenny's and behind his house a bit.. (I think, getting hard to remember!) Here's a video of us trotting back from Lenny's:

                                               
We had been out for a good hour, and once we got back to the stall to take off tack, he was much more relaxed and happy. I put off hand grazing him until later that night, after his supper and before ours. He got a good half hour, and was very respectful of me.

This morning was my second riding lesson with Ryan, so I got up early and had Possum grained by 7 a.m. I wanted to give him plenty of time to digest and eat hay before we got ready. I quickly cleaned his bridle, bit and breastplate, not wanting to show up a total mess, then quickly pulled my messy bed head into a clip and washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then, it was out to the barn to groom and tack up. Rain was threatening to come, but we managed to get the whole lesson in before it came.

I mounted him from the paddock and we ambled down to the Dodge field. Ryan and Donna were lunging Big Mack out in his paddock, and he was looking really good. Possum and I said hello and then we walked all around the big field for awhile. We trotted a few times in circles, too.

At the end of Big Mack's lunging session, Ryan went over the time and had Donna grab her helmet so that she could work with Donna on mounting Big Mack. It was good to see Donna on Mack again! Ryan led her around a few times, then she had her dismount and mount again.

Then, it was time for Possum and me to get some work. Today, we talked again about keeping him forward and straight, and also that I am not doing Possum any favors by letting him lower his head below his croup. So, that was a new insight for me. She reiterated that Possum moves best when we keep him moving forward, not sucking in. So, click and kick first, then use the bat. If one swat doesn't do it, then swat him until he does move forward. So, at the trot and then at the canter, we tried that, and it really does make a difference!

Ryan said I looked stronger and that I am riding him a lot better than this time last year! We talked a lot about Possum, his future, and keeping him a happy, fit horse. So totally worth getting up so early for! She knows Possum the best, and it is fascinating to me to get her perspective on him and the process of riding him well.

We were back to the barn by 10 a.m., and Possum got a well deserved pile of hay. I cleaned his paddock and cleaned and refilled his paddock water tub before the rains came, and he has the rest of the day off. Can't wait to ride tomorrow and work on riding him straight and forward!

                                              First 12 minutes from my first lesson with Ryan.

DAY 13, 14 & 15 - Busy!

Saturday, I was booked to play a show an hour away from noon to 4, so the most I did with Possum was take him out in the morning for a short hand graze and a quick grooming. I cleaned his paddock and fluffed the stall, and just before I left, I loaded up the field and his stall with flakes and flakes of hay. Donna had gracious agreed to come down in the late afternoon to feed him his pellet ration. Later, I found out that just as she and her two boys were just about to leave my barn, a blast of rain came driving down! Her smart daughter had run down here with two umbrellas to save the day.

We had driven down to the Tailgate for the going away / welcoming party after our afternoon gig and played another one hour set, and finally headed for home after a few hours, arriving back around 8:30. Possum was content, munching away in his stall. I could see the effects of the driving rain, as there was run off in the driveway all the way down to his paddock.

Sunday morning, though fairly sleepy, I got him groomed and tacked up by 11:30. We had a pleasant amble down to the bottom of the hill, stopping at Dr. Doyle's old place, and turning back with a short trot around the corner. We wandered back up the hill, with a little trotting, and back past our place up to the Dodge barn. We visited with Big Mack, but he was way more interested in his hay then he was with visiting~

Visiting with Big Mack on Sunday morning.

 I took him for a spin around their big field, and even threw in a few trots and canters in circles both ways. He was pretty good. Then we ambled down to Lenny's, and I found a hole in the stone wall that led through the open pine trees. We walked up the hill, but there was no opening in the stone wall up there, so we had to turn around and head back the way we came. Then walked back up the road, waving to Donna as she and her kids drove by on their way back from church. Possum was excellent, and we walked back home. I took him down through the back behind his paddock, and we picked up a trot and hopped over the little fence, then walked back to the barn. We were out for an hour.

Enjoying the view behind Lenny's on Sunday morning.

I brushed him off and dosed him up with fly spray and took him out for some hand grazing. Soon I had to get ready for my gig, so I let him loose in his paddock with plenty of hay, and he seemed content. He got his early "Sunday supper," and off we went to work.

Yesterday, Monday, I was still pretty spent from the busy weekend, but I got going early and ran my errands and was back by 1:30. I got out to the paddock and decided to pick up the poops first, as well as scrub out and refill the water buckets. Then, I put on my boots, tied him to the tie in the stall and gave him a good grooming.

Once he was all tacked up and I had my chaps and helmet on, we walked out to the stump in the paddock and we walked around for a few minutes. He was ready for action. We turned left out the driveway and once again, headed down the hill. I'm hoping to get him conditioned, if anything, by all of the up and down hill walking.

We walked half way down New Road, then turned back, throwing in some short trots here and there. I even attempted to sit the trot for a bit.. thinking, all along, about Denny Emerson grilling his mantra about being able to sit the trot without bouncing.. easier said then done! I sat quietly for a few strides, then starting flopping again like a rag doll, so I went back to posting so I wouldn't kill his back!

We walked up the hill, then took the right onto the path behind Dad's house. I tried to get him to canter back up from the dip and on into the field, but he was a bit more sluggish today and only trotted. We took the path behind the wild raspberry patch and cut across Dad's driveway and turned out back to the road from the secondary driveway.

We trotted up to Holly's driveway, then marched right past the loud, barking Newfoundland's without batting an eye. We marched past Big Mack, who was grazing in a makeshift paddock Donna had set up, and then ran into Donna and the baby in the stroller, who had picked up her daughter from the bottom of the hill. Instead of driving down to pick her up from the school bus, she walks down and back! Nice.

After chatting with them for a bit, Possum and I continued down the road and took a left behind Lenny's again. This time, we walked further down into the field and enjoyed the beautiful view on a beautiful afternoon. We walked back up the hill through endless milkweeds, and Possum did his best to nibble at everything he could as we walked. Then back to the road from the other side of the house, and up for a quick visit with Big Mack, who once again, was really not too interested in seeing us! He had grass to graze!

It had been about an hour, and so we turned for home. I sponged him lightly with water and took him out back to graze for half an hour. He got his pellets by five, and more hay, and he was happy. He loves it, too, when we hang around the stall area. Even miss Spooky is getting more comfortable around Possum.

I'll see what happens today. Thursday morning, I've got another lesson with Ryan. 

DAY TWELVE - An Easy, Hot Hack

Another blissfully, hot day, and I wanted to get Possum out one more time before the weekend. So, a little after noon, and a snack of an egg and half piece of toast, I changed into my breeches, paddock boots and half-chaps, and groomed and tacked up Possum.

We headed out to the paddock and I mounted from the stump. He walked off, but I was too lazy to correct it, and we walked around the paddock a bit, then headed out the gate and around to the backside of the house. We took the loop in the back yard, and then banged a left over the stone wall to Dad's house. I had heard some noises coming from over there and was hoping to run into him, but, no dice.

I steered Possum towards the path behind the house, and we walked through the woods and trotted back up the hill out of the dip. At the road, we turned left, and ambled down towards Dr. Doyle's old place. We trotted a little bit on the good stretch, then took a look at the house (which is getting a new tin roof put on, though nobody was present), then picked up another trot towards the corner. Possum was pretty mellow, and I had to kick him a few times to keep him moving. Meanwhile, I worked on my position, feeling a little bit stronger than before.

We slowly walked back up the hill, then took a right back onto the path behind Dad's house. When we got to the dip, I let him canter up and we continued cantering all the way to the field. I rode him up to Dad's basement door, but I could hear that he was listening to something on his computer, so I didn't bother him. Instead, we took the path behind the wild raspberry patch and got back up to the driveway and onto the road.

Then, we went left up to the path across the street. Half way up, I asked him to trot, and again, he was dragging his ass! Then we walked for awhile, then I asked for a trot again, and we trotted to the right of the fork almost the whole way. He was a little more peppy for that trot.

Riding back down the path across the street today.

We walked up to the abandoned camp, turned around, and went back the way we came. We trotted again to the corner, then walked all the way back down to the road. Then we walked up to the Dodge barn and visited with Big Mack, who was hanging out in his turnout shed and really, had no interest in coming out to say hi. Then Possum and I walked the whole edge of the Dodge field, and trotted at the last part over to the shady area of the paddock gate.

It was hot, and we had been out for almost an hour, so we turned for home.  I sponged him down with some water, and then took him out back for some grazing. Once again, I had no need to put the chain over his nose.. he's been so chill!

I finished up my chores with him, and now I'm getting ready to take a shower and get dressed for tonight's gig down in Westbrook. At least it's an easy one, plus, the food! Yeah!

Tomorrow, we head out early for a 12-4 gig up at Mount Abrams, and then we zip over to the Tailgate in Gray for the going away/welcoming party. Not excited about that, but, it's good for biz. Donna and her son Jonathan will come down and give Possum his dinner pellets.

So, tomorrow is his official day off, and maybe I'll get in a quick ride on Sunday. If not, no big deal.

DAY ELEVEN - A Lot Of Hills

Thursday mornings are the day Donna and I get together for a 2 mile walk up and down the road, and last Thursday, I brought Possum along, and yesterday, we added Big Mack to the group! He was just coming off of a lunging lesson with Ryan, and I was told he was much better than Monday.

So, off we ambled, down the hill, not without Big Mack and Possum stalling a few times. When we got to the bottom of the hill, their was a town bulldozer and big town truck doing work, and then man was very nice and turned his machine down as we walked by. Big Mack has the stride of moose, and Possum and I were constantly behind a few paces. It was an excellent experiment, though.

Once Big Mack and Donna walked away, and I put Possum back in the paddock, Possum got upset for a few minutes, running back and forth and whinnying. He settled down after a few minutes, though, and I went in and cleaned up and did some chores.

Around quarter to three, I tied him up to the tie in the stall and gave him a good grooming, sprayed him down with more fly spray, and tacked him up. I mounted from the stump in the paddock, and we walked around there for a minute or two, then headed out the gate and around the back of the house. We did the small loop in the back yard, then down over the stone wall to the back of Dad's house and down the trail. When we got to the road, we turned right and walked/trotted back up the hill.

We trotted for a few minutes past our house and then ambled past the Dodge barn. Possum asked if we could go visit Mack, who was grazing in his secondary pasture, but I insisted we keep going down the road. We walked, very slowly, all the way down the steep hill, then crossed the road and went straight down Heads Hill Road. We said hello to the three cows hanging out in the back corner of the field, then walked past the abandoned house and barn and into the cool woods. The path is nice and wide and grassy and runs alongside some streams. We got as far as the bottom of the hill, where it begins to get too rocky to safely continue (though we did amble up and down that last year.. I didn't want to take the chance this time, however), then we turned a tight turn and ambled back. We trotted briskly at a few points, and Possum had his head up high and his ears pointed straight ahead when we arrived back at the abandoned home and barn. We walked past the cow field, crossed the road and ran into Luanne at the bottom of the hill. She and I discussed a plan to go riding at the trails around her place, then Possum and I started walking up the hill.

Riding the path behind Heads Hill Road

 Half way up, I decided to dismount and hand walk him. He was huffing and puffing, and I let him stop and rest a few times. Finally, we got to the top, and I remounted him at the corner of a stone wall in front of Lenny's house. Then we walked home.

I gave him a soapy wash down, rinse and scrape, then sprayed him with some of the coat polisher for good measure. Then he got about 25 minutes of hand grazing. We had been out for a little over an hour. He got his pellets at 5:30 and lots of hay and fresh water. He was very good and got in a lot of exercise to boot!

DAY TEN - Practice

Waited again until 3 in the afternoon yesterday to take Possum out for a ride. He had been hanging around all morning in his stall area, and by the time I groomed and tacked him up, he let out a few big "sighs," just to show how relaxed and comfortable he really is.

I mounted him from the stump in the paddock and walked around for a few minutes, then we walked out the gate and onto the road. I turned him left at first, although I planned on going right to the field, and he acted all googly eyed at one of Jeff's trucks that had been parked at the private way entrance all day. It was kind of funny to me, actually.

After working through our fears about the big, bad truck, we turned "north" and walked up to the Dodge field. Big Mack was in his paddock and was very "chill" about Possum and I arriving. Possum wanted to have a meet and greet more than Mack! Once Mack ambled over and they blew noses for a few seconds, I turned Possum to the field and we worked in the same area where we had our lesson on Monday.

We trotted the figure eight a couple of times without stopping. Then we cantered both ways for most of a whole circle. He got a little "squeely and hoppy" for a few seconds, but I kicked him forward and he behaved. I felt better in my positioning, at least a little.

Then, we got back on to the road and walked in the field across the street from Lenny's, our first time since he's been back. We marched right through all of that tall grass, stopped at the top to take in the view, then down the hill around the back. I picked two small apples from one of the old apple trees growing there, and I ate one and I tucked the other in my chaps to feed Possum with his supper later.

 We left that field and crossed the road to the other field, and walked through even more tall grass and around to the back of the house. Then back up the road, we cantered almost all the way to the barn (well, not quite) - and then walked back towards home.

It hadn't been a whole hour yet, so we walked past the big, scary truck again, then down through Dad's secondary driveway and back up through the stone wall at the bottom. We hopped over the tiny little jump I made out of some tires and a big birch log. Back and forth a few times, wee! Then, I walked him up to the "big" jump, and he proceeded to knock one half of it down. So, we hopped over that, back and forth, a few times as well. Fun!

Then we walked back to the stable, he got a sponge bath and some hand grazing, and back to the paddock. Another very good day with a very good pony horse.

DAY NINE - A Mellow Ride

Another hot and humid day yesterday. We don't mind.

I spent the morning catching up on internet stuff, then got dressed and went down town to market. I didn't groom and tack Possum up until about 3:00 in the afternoon, mostly because of the warm temps.

I put on my old chaps and mounted up in the paddock off the old stump. We walked around the paddock a little bit, then went out the gate and around to the back of the house. We took the little loop in the back yard, then walked down the path to Dad's land, and down to the big path behind his house. Possum and I walked through the cool woods, and I made him walk down the hill of the "dip," then I let him trot back up. We continued on to the road at a walk, and took a left and walked all the way down to Dr. Doyle's old place. On the way back to the corner, I asked him for a trot, and man, could I feel the burn from Monday's lesson! I tried my best to keep my tummy tucked and my shoulder's rolled back, then we walked all the way down to the opening by the big logs, just past Laughing Tree Farm. We walked down the little logging path and looped over to the back of the Downing's field. I figured it couldn't be such a terrible thing to walk along the tree line on the back of their property back to New Road, so that's what we did.

We had run into Dad as we were walking down the hill earlier, and just as we got back onto the end of New Road, we ran into Dad again, just coming back from the market. We said hello, then Possum and I walked up into the field on Rt. 117. We explored another little logging path, but it was very muddy, just like last year, so we headed back through the field and onto New Road. We walked most of the way, but trotted a few times where the road is more sandy and less rocky.

Coming around the corner, we picked up a canter and got about a quarter of the way up before we slowed to a trot and then a walk. We kept going straight up the hill on the road, and then took a right into Dad's driveway. We went through the top path towards the paddock, and looped around the back of the house and walked all the way into the stall, where I dismounted. We had been out a little over an hour!

He was quite warm and sweaty, so I sponged him down with some warm/cool water, and he was very good. I decided to try this without putting the chain over his nose, which I usually feel compelled to do, and he was very responsive to my commands to stand still! Then, we ambled around back for 20 minutes of hand grazing. He was super mellow and cool. He didn't fuss much when I pulled his head up and led him back to the paddock. So good.

He was cooled down enough and I fed him his pellets and spread out a bunch of flakes of hay. I cleaned the paddock and scrubbed out and refilled his water buckets, gave him a quick brushing and sprayed him with more fly spray, and then he was done for the night, except I replenished his hay a few more times. Another great day with Mr. John Possum!

Today, another easy ride, perhaps out in the Dodge field to practice a little from the riding lesson.

Grazing after the ride.

DAY SIX, SEVEN & EIGHT - More Hay, A Day Off & A Riding Lesson

Saturday morning, I got up and fed Possum by 8:15 or so, and then went back to bed, as I had only retired at 2:35 a.m. after my Bray's gig the night before. Once I got up by around 10:00 or so, I got dressed and went out to clean the paddock and check on the boy. He was fine.

A little before noon, I called Allene Westleigh to find out if I could come over to pick up another truck load of hay. She informed me that they were back out in the field, baling more hay, and that I was welcome to drive over there. So, off I went, and it was a beautiful, sunny day, but not too hot, and I watched as the raked hay got baled. Then, I drove around and filled up Mom's little truck with 22 bales, and spent a lot more time securing it all with bungee cords. Then, I drove over to the Westleigh's house and wrote Allene a check for the amount of the two day's worth of hay (45 bales total.) Drove back home, and Don helped me unload and stack the bales. It's getting pretty tight in there, but I am so amazed to have 215 (or so) bales in the barn right now!

After a short rest and a little snack, I caught Possum, groomed and tacked him up, and went out for about an hour's ride. We crossed the street and rode up the path to the bottom of the peak of Fessenden Hill, circling the loop several times at the walk and trot. At one point, Possum spooked at a boogie in the woods, but I managed to not fall off and we re-grouped. Once back on the road, we rode down the hill and into Dad's driveway, then around the back side to the path behind his house. We rode through the cool woods to the road again, and on the way back, I asked him to canter up the hill, and that was a lot of fun. He was a trooper!

We walked on up to the Dodge farm and had quick visit with Big Mack, and I was able to see Donna and tell her that I had heard from Ryan and she was offering to give me a lesson on Monday morning, as she was going to be in our neck of the woods anyway, to give Luanne's son a riding lesson at her place. Donna asked if she could have a lesson, too, and I said I'd get in touch with Ryan and let her know if she had time. Possum and I walked down the road a bit, then we headed back for home, very relaxed and comfortable.

As I took him out for a hand graze after our ride, I texted Ryan, and she was able to fit in a lesson with Donna and Big Mack as well, so I left Donna a message that Monday morning at 10:15 Ryan would arrive! Then, I put Possum back in his paddock, gave him more hay and refreshed his water supply, and then it was just about time for me to get ready for my Saturday night gig in Freeport.

We had a great gig and got home at 2:20 in the morning. Sunday morning, I gave him his pellets by about 8:00 or so, and went back to bed for a little while. Sunday is Possum's official day off, and because we had to leave early afternoon for a gig in Waterford, that worked out for us, too. I gave him plenty of hay and water, and even took him out for a little hand grazing before we left for the afternoon.

We got back around 4:45, and started getting ready for our birthday dinner guests to arrive at around 5:15. Possum got his pellets and more hay, and we had a lovely dinner party with Dad and Phyllis and Nat and Eryn. Dad had picked up a cake from Hannafords that had "Happy Birthday / Anniversary" written on it. Phyllis brought a delicious Southwestern Potato Salad, and Don did his usual bang up job on the grilled tips and chicken and fresh Maine corn on the cob. I accented it all with my usual yummy garden salad. We had fun, and Possum enjoyed the company, as well. Except, he did not sit at the dining room table with us. Snort!

That night, Don and I retired plenty early, and I slept well! I got Possum fed by 8:00 o'clock, and after coffee and a little internet, I started to get ready for my riding lesson! I decided to wear my old polyester breeches with my old childhood paddock boots and my new "half-chaps." I washed my face (no shower!), and put my hair in a little pony tail, and spent a good amount of time grooming Possum. I dosed him with fly spray, and made sure all of his tack was neat and clean and in order. I grabbed my little fly swooshing crop, and I hand walked Possum up to the Dodge barn and arrived at about 10:05. Donna was in her riding clothes, but Mack was still in the paddock. She was a little worried about him, as he was a little lethargic about his morning feed, but she brought him into the barn anyway and started to get him ready.

Ryan and her daughter Sadie showed up around 10:25 or so, and Nat and Eryn also popped in for a few minutes to say goodbye. Don came over, as well, with the iPad, and shot a bunch of video for me!

Because Ryan isn't too familiar with Big Mack, and also knew that Donna has not ridden him in quite a while, she had Donna lunge him in her paddock while she worked with me on Possum in the field just outside of the paddock. She had me work on keeping Possum forward and straight and balanced. I learned I have to work on keeping my tummy (my "core") tight, and keep rolling my shoulders back, and to watch that I don't rely on my right rein. I have to keep the inside rein loose and hold onto the outside rein when I'm going around the corners. She also had me lengthen my stirrups. I was frustrated with my body not being able to keep up with what my mind sees as being the correct way to ride, but she told me to give myself some slack and to remember that it is mostly just muscle memory. Also, that I should just make small goals and to not try and get every second perfect. She's a good teacher.

After watching Donna and Big Mack lunge, she decided that it wasn't safe for Donna to ride that day, and so she went in and worked with Big Mack on the lunge herself. Donna got a LOT out of that lesson, I know, and I'm excited that they made plans for more lunging lessons in the next few days, in order to work them up to riding. Donna is finally on her way! Exciting.

After my lesson, and yes, my body was pretty sore - and it still is today - I gave Possum a nice cool and soapy bath. It was very humid and warm, and think he liked it, except when I tried to wash his pretty face! I scraped him down, and sprayed him with the coat polisher spray that was in the box of leftover stuff from camp. Then, I took him out for a nice long hand graze. Finally, I led him back to his paddock area and he enjoyed the rest of the day off, as did I! After all, it was Labor Day. Don spent a few hours washing and waxing the Jeep, and then he drove downtown to pick up some chicken wings, celery and blue cheese for our supper. We added the leftover baked beans and corn bread we brought home from our Saturday night gig at Buck's Naked BBQ, as well as some of the left over potato salad Phyllis brought for the Sunday night dinner party. It was delicious!

Today, I have been busy catching up on the internet and business, then I have to shower and go to market. Later this afternoon, I'll take Possum out for a spin. We will see what kind of adventures we will get into!

Just before our lesson on Monday morning!